It has been happening to me more than I like lately. Clothing's difficult because sizes can vary. And, face it, everyone has their own taste. Money seems to require no thought. And giving gift cards can be risky. That's a lesson we've learned recently from the dozens of readers who were left hanging with gift certificates to local restaurants that suddenly closed their doors — places like Paolo's Restaurant in Northampton.

This Christmas, my husband and I received a beautiful movie-themed gift basket that we loved. It "fit" (we love movies). It was filled with items I could actually use, including movie tickets and an array of snack items for theater or home viewing.

And, it actually inspired me to want to make personalized gift baskets for others. But often, that's easier said than done. That's why I was intrigued to hear about Mountain Laurel Gift Baskets, which opened recently in Bath.

Owners Suzanne Hinkel and her daughter, Laura Hendricks, make gift baskets for all occasions — birthday, thank you, sympathy, bridal gifts and even table centerpieces for special events.

Suzanne said she has always loved putting together gift baskets. Long before she even considered opening a business, she frequently gave her homemade baskets as gifts to family and friends.

It wasn't until she was laid off from her retail management job in 2008 that she started to take her talent to a new level. She began making them out of her home at friends' requests. As those requests grew, she decided to sell them in a small consignment shop in Nazareth. But demand became so great that she finally decided to open her own retail shop. It's in a small strip mall at 5751 Nor-Bath Blvd.

In addition to selling gift baskets, she sells the items she puts into them — gourmet treats such as cheeses, crackers, soups, jellies and jams, sauces and dips, cakes, pies, cookies, coffees, teas and cocoas. She even has specialty items, such gluten-free and peanut-free foods, as well as organic ones.

This is not the same merchandise you find in your local supermarket, she said.

You'll find gift basket ideas on Mountain Laurel Gift Basket's website: http://www.mtlgiftbaskets.com. Check out their baskets for pet lovers, housewarmings, new babies, health nuts and more. Or, you can visit the shop or call her by phone to piece together your personalized basket. You can even name the price. Tell her how much you want to spend and she'll help you put together a basket for that price, she said.

Her store is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Orders can be placed by calling the shop at 484-281-3124. You can even place orders after hours by calling: 610-905-2282.

Now, for some big chain news.

Saladworks will open at 2401 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, but the opening date is at least two months away, Saladworks spokeswoman Gail Scardapane said.

The chain's concept is to provide fresh, made-to-order, entrée-sized salads as a healthy fast-food alternative to consumers on the go.

The Whitehall franchise will be owned and operated by the same folks who own the Bethlehem franchise at 3215 Schoenersville Road. Other Saladworks locations: 1403 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., South Whitehall Township, and 3812A Easton-Nazareth Highway, Lower Nazareth Township. I'll give you more on the new site when it opens.

More woes for Sonic Drive-In, which disappointed readers when it closed at 139 N. West End Blvd. in Richland Township in September.

My colleague Sam Kennedy reported Wednesday that Sonic Drive-In on Route 248 in Lower Nazareth Township was forced to shut down amid a dispute with the restaurant's landlord over failure to pay rent.

Those who still want to eat at the nostalgic, fast-food drive-in where roller-skating waiters deliver food to cars can still find Sonics along Airport Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, and in Phillipsburg.

Yet more chain news: I've had several emails from readers who've asked what's under construction at the northeast corner of S. Fourth Street and Emmaus Avenue in Allentown. It's definitely a CVS Pharmacy.

Yes, there already is a CVS at that intersection, diagonally across the street from the construction site.

But CVS has outgrown the old site, CVS spokesman Mike D'Angelist said. The new store will be larger — 13,000 square feet of space as opposed to 9,000 square feet at the old store. It also will have a drive-through pharmacy service and a larger selection of merchandise, including more room for groceries.

The new store is scheduled to open in late July, D'Angelist said.

This is not the first time we've seen CVS replace popular locations with new stores nearby. Recently in Palmer Township, CVS moved from 2555 Nazareth Road to 3519 Nazareth Road, where it gained 4,000 square feet of space.